'Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could suddenly become unfroze'

“The US and Europe can no longer keep the Nagorno-Karabakh talks on the back burner”, says Denis Corboy in his article “Calming the Roiling Caucasus” published in The New York Times.

The article notes that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia this week is timely: “The Caucasus holds risks of confrontation that could affect American and European interests, and it requires regular and high-level attention”.

The author says that the renewed hostilities are increasingly possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan: “The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe seeks a mediated solution, but negotiations are long stalled. A fragile cease-fire is frequently violated. Russia arms Armenia and maintains a military base there. Azerbaijan uses its oil wealth for an arms buildup, and its ally Turkey has closed the border with Armenia for more than a decade. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could suddenly become unfrozen”.

Denis Corboy notes that in her visit to the region, Secretary Clinton should spotlight these tensions and offer reassurance that the West will work actively to prevent confrontation and conflict.


/APA/